I choked on my own spit. "What? No. Who told you that?"
He shrugged. "Nobody. You smell different. Like, I don’t know. Like you were around someone new."
I focused on the road. Shit. This kid was too perceptive for his own good. "You know how the Beck Clan dragons went into hibernation? And Ashton was the first to wake."
"Yeah. Elle said more of the dragons are awake."
I nodded and turned onto Nathan’s street. "Well one of those dragons is my boss, and he woke up about a week ago."
He seemed to accept that, but I could feel him watching me, as if he knew I was holding something back.
We pulled up to Nathan’s house. There were three cars in the drive, and Elle stood in the window, waving. Bryce grabbed his backpack and bolted out of the car before I could say goodbye or explain any more about Zaden. He'd accepted that my boss was awake and that was that. For now.
Nathan opened the door and gave me a nod. He was in jeans and a Henley, already holding a mug of coffee. "You look like hell," he said with a laugh.
"Feel like it, too," I replied. "He’s all yours. Good luck."
He laughed, then looked at me for a beat longer than necessary. "If you need anything, let me know."
The all-knowing Alpha. I nodded, then watched as Bryce disappeared inside, already shouting about Mario Kart. I lingered by the curb, letting the morning sun burn off the chill.
My phone buzzed again. Another text from Zaden.
Is tonight a good day for nondate number 2? After work.
I rolled my eyes, but my fingers hovered over the reply button.
You’re on.
I tossed the phone in my bag and set off for the grocery store. My errands were mindless but necessary. I clipped coupons and compared prices on store-brand cereal. I made mental notes of what we could live without for another week.
After groceries, I hit the post office, then the bank. My mind wandered back to Zaden and his sexy smile.
I got back in the car and called Tavi. She answered on the first ring.
"Tell me everything," she said.
I snorted. "About what?"
"Don’t play dumb. You went home with him, didn’t you?"
"I did not," I said indignantly, then hesitated. "Not exactly."
She cackled. "You’re blushing, aren’t you? I can hear it."
I shifted in my seat, staring out at the post office parking lot. "It was a motorcycle ride and some flirting. Nothing happened."
"Liar," she sang. "You always say ‘nothing happened’ when something really happened."
I sighed. "Fine. Maybe something happened. But it’s not a big deal."
"You deserve a big deal," Tavi said, suddenly serious. "You’ve been alone for too long."
I rolled my eyes. "I have Bryce. That’s enough."
She was quiet for a second. "Is it?"
I didn’t answer.
